Thursday, January 17, 2013

Zero Nats on Team USA

They may have a roster loaded with All-Stars, but the Nationals won't have anyone representing Team USA in this spring's World Baseball Classic.

Manager Joe Torre announced his 28-man provisional roster this morning, and in a fairly surprising development, zero members of the Nationals were on the list.

The roster was assembled by Torre and his coaching staff, though major-league clubs do have the ability to discourage some players from participating due to injury concerns. The players themselves also have the right to decline an invitation for any reason.

It was previously known Bryce Harper would not play in the event, which will be held in March and require players to leave their spring training camps for as many as three weeks. And it seemed a safeRead more

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Great news! Nobody cares about the WBC anyways and now we don't have to worry about our guys getting injured playing competitive baseball in March. Baseball players are creatures of habit and happy that they get to continue their Spring Training routine.

Really not that surprising. Desmond, Zim, Storen and Clippard were almost assuredly approached to participate at some point in the selection process.

Storen and Clippard declined to be considered due to their arbitration statuses and the potential injuries that could come as a pitcher when they don't have long term contracts.

If Desmond and Zimmerman had more positional flexibility they would have made more sense, but they figure to not see much playing time and that makes utility infielders a more logical choice.

The most surprising name on the USA roster for me is Kimbrel. Obviously he's the best reliever in the game and should be on the team, but if I were him and not even arbitration eligible yet, I wouldn't risk injury by pitching now instead of 4 years down the road when he's got a long term deal.

So, I've had a busy, busy offseason so far and have not been able to participate in the blogger chatter as much as I have wanted to recently, but I feel compelled ... like it is something that has to be marked off the to do list ... to comment on Michael Morse in particular and recent roster changes in general.

I love Michael Morse. One of my favorites, beast mode, take on me, champaigne spraying, charismatic, lovable hero. His grace on exit is remarkable. His performance while here inspiring. I don't think the analysis in the national and Seattle press pay appropriate homage to his skill set. I completely understand why Seattle would want to acquire him. I am also suprised and relieved at the package the Nationals got in return. A.J. Cole is a highly regarded and talented prospect who immediately jumps into the top 10 if not top 5 prospect list. (He was rated ahead of Peacock, Milone, and Norris last year before the Gio trade). I also liked the Soriano signing though I was sad the team gave up a draft pick to do it.

I'm also a little sad that Storen may feel a little under appreciated but, I wonder if there might not be more questions about his and Clippard's health than the general public may be aware. Either way, Soriano is a great addition.

So, good work Nats for making the moves. Can't wait. Ok another item off the to do list ....

I watched one of the WBC play-in games, between -- I think -- Panama and Colombia. I think Panama won. An awful lot of very mediocre players on both teams -- including players from the Japanese league(s) -- and this in a region where baseball has deep roots. Watching teams from Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia (run with the ball, drop kick it for a HR), and (Red) China won't get me excited. The WBC has a long, long way to go before it means anything (recall such WBC heroes as Maya and Shairon Martis) and it is beyond me why any US players are anxious to play in it.

Ghost Of Steve M. said... Ghost Of Steve M. said... I think Bernadia will be on the Dutch team.

January 17, 2013 10:12 AM

This looks like the only Nat on a WBC roster.

The Shark might be better served rethinking this decision and staying in spring training trying to solidify his position on the team like all the other Nats. What's that old saying? Out of sight, out of mind.

The Shark might be better served rethinking this decision and staying in spring training trying to solidify his position on the team like all the other Nats. What's that old saying? Out of sight, out of mind.

He's too valuable ... they'd have to work a trade ... which is possible. Still have to think he and Clippard might be next to go over to the AL possibly to Tampa Bay.

I for one enjoy the WBC, the games are great. Watched a lot the first time and last time went to San Diego and saw all 6 games (Cuba, Mexico, Japan and Korea).

Saw some great baseball, and some great players [Adrian Gonzalez, Ardolis Chapman, Yu Darvish & Ichiro Suzuki] and smart baseball. The Japan team was great at going the other way and moving runners along. It was like ML baseball before PED's.

I enjoyed it so much.

The group here doesn't know what their missing.

As for Nats on the team, I'm glad no Nationals pitchers on the team, because I do think the early work is bad, but hitters I think would have been more than okay with me.

I'll be sad not to see any Nats on the US team, but it seems they managed to get some pretty good stars. Sure, a player could get hurt. But they could get hurt doing anything. Whatever. Tournaments are fun, and I like fun things.

I haven't gotten to see as much WBC action in prior years as I would have liked, but I have the MLB Network now and hope to catch many of the games. Maybe one year I can go in person. It looks wild.

I have no problem with Bernadina taking the opportunity to be a key player on a team. I hope he plays well and gets lots of attention. He is a great guy. I will be cheering for him. I understand how everyone feels about Nats on the team but I kind of wish we had someone on the roster. It feels like a snub. Adam could have played. So - masn at four? Not seeing anything .

I'm too cheap to get ESPN Insider, but got the gist from the summary. I'm glad Law and the other baseball geeks think the Nats got the best of the trade, but their conclusion that the Mariners got fleeced underestimates the potential of Morse in his contract year. Their projections are tainted by his injuries in the past few years. If he's healthy, he's going to crush the ball, as he did here in 2011. So the Mariners are basically gambling on his health, and it's not like they gave up on all star or something to get him.

Seattle also probably is thinking about extending Morse if he plays well. So to simply call it a one year rental isn't quite fair. It sounds like Morse likes Seattle (who wouldn't?) and is grateful to go somewhere where he's appreciated. So the Mariners have the inside track to signing him as a free agent.

Props to Rizzo for giving Morse a chance to have a big season in his walk year. It would have sent a bad signal if he'd nailed him to the bench even if he may have ended up getting a ring out of the deal.

I think WBC can be a platform to promote baseball in not only countries where national teams are not famous but also to countries where baseball is not well-known such as India. Then those foreign countries can be ground for more baseball talent. More the competition, more this sport will grow.

swami, let me just say that I admire your dedication. Sitting and waiting for a press conference -- a press conference announcing news that we already know, at that -- is far more than I am willing to do.

Have a performance-enhancing treatment of your choice, and put it on my tab. We don't test for HGH or blood doping in here.

the Nats got the best of the trade, but their conclusion that the Mariners got fleeced underestimates the potential of Morse in his contract year.

Its not so much who they got in trade sec222, its who they gave up. Without a doubt John Jaso was absolutely their best hitter by a pretty wide margin last season ... amazingly enough. 2012 was his breakout season offensively. He was also their very best defensive catcher. Last season Jesus Montero was not only bad defensively but offensively putrid. He may need more time in AAA? Certainly the Mariners have their top catching prospect close to the majors as well but he isn't ready to catch 150 games for them.

Its a strange trade for the Mariners and has left their fans scratching their heads. Reminds me very much of how fixed Kenny Williams was on acquiring Adam Dunn ... much to his chagrin given Dunn's first season there. I doubt that Morse will fall that low ... but it sure seems like Jack Zduriencik was both looking for his own reasonably cheap big bat insurance policy given the potential for pathetic years the other big bats he acquired have ... but also to rectify a mistake he made in a lopsided trade that brought Ryan Langerhans in exchange for the true middle of the order bat that Michael Morse developed into.

Certainly, the Nats had the same idea when presented with the possibility of getting AJ Cole back, the gem they lost in the Gio trade.

But given the Mariners obvious weaknesses and fan frustration it sure seem s like Jack Zduriencik might just have finally put the straw on the camel's back that breaks it.

I know it seems obsessive- I just like to see the new guy in the uni, see what he looks like, hear him and start to get a general feel for what he is like. I know nothing about the guy except that he untucks his shirt. Takes me a while to buy in and this is part if the process. Still haven 't seen span or Haren. Ugh. I hate changes on my team, even when I know they are for the best.

DSpan got himself into a bit of hot water especially with Chris Needham when he bought a little bit into a conspiracy theory associated with Newtown. Got flamed pretty heavily which led to a less than sincere apology. I can understand his point of view ... he just said it made him think not that he thought any of it was true.

Jaso had a very good year last year, no doubt about it. And he's cheap and controlled for three years. But he only played 102 games last year. He can't hit LH pitching, so at best he's a platoon player or a DH against righties. Morse is just in a different class as a hitter. I think the experts underestimate him. And as I said before, I expect Seattle is looking to sign him long term. Time will tell.

222. I think the reason SEA is getting ripped for the trade is they have already have a ton of OF's/DH types. They actually have Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay. Morse will do way better than those two.

and for the rest of you that may not be on twitter, Span didn't say anything bad on twitter yesterday about Newtown all he said was this, nothing inflamatory, so layoff:Denard Span‏@thisisdspanI was watching some controversial stuff on YouTube about the sandy hooks thing today! It really makes u think and wonder

Peric,I never said you did anything. Span got HAMMERED yesterday on twitter for that comment. Everyone went nuts on him. I didn't want the folks here who may not have access to twitter to misinterpret.He deserves a fair chance without the twitterverse going off on him for that.

I never said you did anything. Span got HAMMERED yesterday on twitter for that comment. Everyone went nuts on him. I didn't want the folks here who may not have access to twitter to misinterpret.He deserves a fair chance without the twitterverse going off on him for that.

Rationalizing eh? Trying to act as if you aren't a trouble maker which you are? My god I can just imagine the sort of trouble you probably used to get boys into in school when you were younger. I remember girls like you. Blecch!

Re: Soriano using an interpreter in the press conference - got to figure he (and, well, Boras) want to be cautious in front of the press. I imagine his English is likely to be at least serviceable/conversational after playing on US teams for ten years.

Michele- not sure about the fences but heard their GM talking about watching them working on it. This is so weird for me because I lived out there for many years with the military. The Mariner's were my kids' first team with Griffey , Sr and Jr. Nice memories.

And-- how are the rest of you feeling about the new- look Washington Nationals? Mark was the one that addressed Drew and Clip at the presser, by the way. I am sure that I have mentioned numerous times that it takes me a while to adjust. At least my faves are still around. Arbitration the next issue?

SCNats.. saw that, it was Mitch Williams that said that. Have to see the dimensions before you can see if Morse can hit is out. A couple power bats have gone in there (Beltre?) and have had issue and wanted to get out of their fast.

Interesting how all the parks that were built with the big parks for pitchers are now all bringing in the fences - Citi Field this year, Safeco, and I think the Astros are pullin in the CF (getting rid of that hill) at some point.

Just finished reading the rest of the thread. Thanks for the background for non-Tweeters, Michele. Not that I'd think less of Span or anyone else for being a target of teapot tempests on the Tweeter, of course.

Just finished reading the rest of the thread. Thanks for the background for non-Tweeters, Michele. Not that I'd think less of Span or anyone else for being a target of intemperate reactions on the Tweeter, of course.

natsfan1a said...Just finished reading the rest of the thread. Thanks for the background for non-Tweeters, Michele. Not that I'd think less of Span or anyone else for being a target of intemperate reactions on the Tweeter, of course.January 17, 2013 7:37 PM

I second that Michele. I have a twitter account but am not very fluent with it, so I don't use it much.

Ok - I am just really really happy that NO ONE replied to all of Peric's idiotic - let me repeat idiotic responses -if we keep that up he might just experience a head explosion -never been more proud of our insiders

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About the Author

Mark Zuckerman has covered the Nationals since the franchise arrived in D.C. He's been a member of the Baseball Writers' Association of America since 2001 and is a Hall of Fame voter. Email mzuckerman@comcastsportsnet.com.